Adapted from Tails from RASKC
Like many animal shelters across the nation, Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) is overwhelmed with dogs and cats. To help ease the shelter space crunch, RASKC is waiving adoption fees for dogs through the end of the year during the “Home for the Holidays” promotion.
“Our dog kennels have been consistently at or over capacity all year,” said interim RASKC manager Tim Anderson. “I can’t recall that happening in the last twelve years. So, by waiving adoption fees, we hope we can find a place for all the dogs that have been waiting patiently with us for their fur-ever family.”
Depending on where an adopter lives, a pet license fee may still apply. A King County pet license comes with many benefits, including Vacation Pet Alert, Free Ride Home and more.
See the full story in Tails from RASKC.
|
After the storm – resources and services available, and survey to report damages
Crossposted from KC Emergency News
Food replacement (for DSHS Basic Food program recipients)
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has granted a waiver extending the 10-day reporting period for food loss due to the November 19 bomb cyclone. Residents in the following counties have until Dec. 19, 2024, to report food loss: King, Snohomish, Whatcom, Skagit, Kitsap, Island, Clallam, Pierce, Thurston, Lewis, Kittitas, Yakima, Douglas, Okanogan, Chelan, and Ferry.
Call 877-501-2233, visit a Community Services Office, fill out the Basic Food Affidavit Replacement for Household Disaster form, or provide a written attestation. Find the steps for requesting replacement benefits on their website here.
Storm damage repair permits (unincorporated King County)
King County recognizes the toll the recent storm took on many in the unincorporated areas, including those who suffered property damage. The Department of Local Services wants to help unincorporated King County residents whose properties were affected by quickly processing their damage repair permits. Read more.
|
King County Metro celebrates Pardeep Kaile, Employee of the Year in Link light rail
Crossposted from Metro Matters
Pardeep Kaile is a true triple threat: someone who has made her mark in transit as a bus operator, then in the Streetcar section and currently in Link light rail.
Kaile, a Rail Operation Supervisor, was named King County Metro’s Rail Employee of the Year in Link light rail on Wednesday. Metro supervisors, operators and maintenance staff operate light rail for Sound Transit. She was honored at a ceremony in which colleagues and leaders called her “a tremendous value to the agency,” “nimble and a great problem solver” and someone who “cares deeply about the humans she works with.”
As our region continues to expand, the need for reliable, efficient and sustainable public transportation becomes more critical than ever, and it would not be possible without the workers who keep it moving, transit colleagues said. Read more.
|
Hear from employees and partners about how the King County Parks Levy enhances our region's quality of life
Meet Marvin! For Parks employee Marvin Johnson, a day spent outside connecting with parks visitors is a good day. Quick with a smile and always happy to chat, he is one of the many people working hard to keep our county parks, trails and natural areas open and available to everyone.
Click the image below to hear from Marvin, other employees, and partners about how the King County Parks Levy enhances our region's quality of life in our new video!
2025 MLK Jr. calendars now available to order
The 2025 MLK Jr. calendar, designed by artist Barbara Earl Thomas, is now available for King County employees to order.
All orders will need to be submitted via the order form by Friday, Dec. 20, 2024.
Listed below are the guidelines for submitting orders:
- Only one order per section is allowed. Please identify one person in your section/department to coordinate and submit your order.
- Minimum order is 50 calendars and increased in increments of 50 (50, 100, 150, 200, etc.).
- We will not be accepting individual orders and you will need to coordinate with your section/department contact person.
- If you do not have a Mailstop, then you will need to arrange a time to pick up your order from the Chinook Building.
Artist biography: Thomas is a Seattle-based visual storyteller that has drawn from history, literature, folklore, mythology, and biblical throughout her career. Thomas's illumination of the human figure through her light-filled artworks and portraiture encourages the viewer to reflect on how we communicate ourselves to the world and how we perceive those among us.
For questions or information, contact Erica White at erwhite@kingcounty.gov.
|
Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums to increase in 2025
The Employment Security Department recently announced that premium rates for the Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave program will be changing next year.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2025:
- The premium rate will increase from 0.74% to 0.92%.
- Employers will pay 28.48% of the total premium and employees will pay 71.52%—a ratio similar to last year.
The Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave program is funded by premiums collected from employees and employers in Washington state. By law, the Employment Security Department recalculates the premium rate annually in October based on program usage and premiums collected the previous year.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, you will see the new contribution amounts in the Employee Taxes section of your pay advice. The deductions are shown in two parts –family coverage is “WA FLI/EE” and medical coverage is “WA MLI/EE.”
For more information, go to paidleave.wa.gov/updates or contact the Employment Security Department at 833-717-2273.
|
Mental Health First Aid Certification course schedule for 2025 from Balanced You
Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis. The Certification course focuses on recognizing the patterns of thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and appearance that show there might be a challenge rather than on a specific disorder. Participants learn the MHFA Action Plan and how to apply to non-crisis and crisis situations. Check out the full course schedule here.
Supervisors: Here is a printer-friendly PDF with the new 2025 mental health first-aid course schedule to post at your worksites for employees who do not have access to email.
|
Register now for January retirement classes
Check out the upcoming educational opportunities below to help you learn about—and prepare for—retirement. Please note, attendance at retirement classes is strictly voluntary, on your own time, and non-work related.
Use the links below to register for the following online classes provided by your King County Retirement Team. For additional information, visit the King County Retirement page, read the Retirement Guide, or contact Carmen Johnson, retirement navigator.
Road to Retirement: Jan. 21 at 10 a.m. and Jan. 28 at 1 p.m. This class is designed for employees who are planning to retire from King County in the next six months. It covers procedures, forms, medical coverage options, and pension plans—so you’ll be on a smooth road toward a happy retirement. Register for Road to Retirement.
To register for the following Deferred Compensation Plan education sessions, go to T. Rowe Price Education Sessions. For more information, go to the Deferred Compensation Plan web page or contact KC Deferred Comp.
Investing for Retirement Basics: Jan. 10 at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., and noon. Learn the basics of investing with an explanation of asset allocation, diversification considerations, and when to consider making adjustments to your retirement plan account.
|
Records Management Reminder: You must retain each email in a thread
Each email has unique metadata, including some data we do not even see when reading our emails in Outlook. When emails are part of a thread or chain, some of that metadata for the previous emails is lost.
It is for that reason that state guidance and case law requires that we retain each of our emails, even if they are part of a single thread or chain. The exception to that is are emails that are transitory and can be deleted at any time. For more information, review the Email Best Practice guidance.
For more information, visit the county’s Records Management Program website or contact them at records.management@kingcounty.gov. The Records Management Program, in the Department of Executive Services, provides guidance, resources, and training to all King County employees to assist them with managing King County’s public records according to state and local legal requirements and best practices.
Discounted tickets to upcoming UW Husky men's basketball games
King County employees can now take advantage of discounted tickets to upcoming University of Washington Husky men's basketball games.
Tickets are for the five B1G matchup games, held January through March 2025. View tickets and purchase them at this link here. For questions or more information, contact Account Executive Andy Reed at 206-543-7020 or areed4@uw.edu.
See all available employee discounts on the Employee Discount webpage.
Training Spotlight:
Brain-based Time Management – Online – Are you overwhelmed by your To Do list(s)? Find out what your brain needs to keep all your tasks in perspective, prioritize them, and have a clear path to get them finished. This class includes information about multitasking, a mindfulness practice to reduce physical stress, and techniques to work with interruptions and distractions. We will also practice effective weekly planning.
- Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, from 9 a.m. to noon. Fees apply. Enroll here.
ERSJ Fundamentals: A Journey Through Socialization – Join us in this engaging workshop where we will explore the complex nature of socialization and its impact on our views, beliefs, and behaviors and gain deep understanding of how systemic biases are embedded in our society. We will explore strategies for building inclusive communities where all individuals, regardless of their background, can thrive. Together, we aim to empower participants to take meaningful actions that drive social change and promote justice in their own spheres of influence. (Eligible for 2.75 SHRM PDC)
Building High Trust Cultures – Online – When work cultures and relationships are rooted in trust and psychological safety there is less stress, burnout, and turnover, as well as higher team performance, innovation, and engagement. Trust is a crucial component to successful interpersonal and team dynamics, all of which are impacted by social identities. Using age/generation as an illustrative example, this course shows that healthy workplaces rely on a foundation of trust. As a leadership cornerstone, building trust fosters a culture of inclusion and belonging where every employee can bring their authentic self so their strengths shine. (Eligible for 3.75 SHRM PDC)
- Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Enroll here.
Please visit our Learning and Development training website and our Career Support Services website for more learning opportunities. Also, for discounted college continuing education opportunities, visit our Discounts webpage and expand the Higher Education menu! For more information, contact the Learning and Development Team at KCTraining@kingcounty.gov or visit Learning and Development at www.kingcounty.gov/learning.
Pet of the Week: Pawparazzi
I am a one-year-old, male dog, tan Belgian Malinois ID #A720469. At 61 lbs I am considered a "large breed" dog. This affectionate lovebug would be thrilled to cuddle up with you at home! I am full of energy and love to play! I tend to calm down more when the people around me stay calm. I do best when I have lots of exercise and something to keep my mind busy. My breed is known for being very smart and needing a lot of stimulation. I would love for someone who wouldn't mind doing training and fun tasks with me! I am a very spirited dog with a fun-loving personality! I am still working on my manners, so I would do best with a family who is willing to work with me and help me become the best dog I can be!
I am neutered, current on vaccinations, and microchipped! My adoption comes with many benefits, including 30 days of opt-in pet insurance through Trupanion. You can find out more about me and my other friends on our website at kingcounty.gov/adoptapet. If you have more questions, you can contact RASKC via phone at 206-296-7387 (PETS) or email pets@kingcounty.gov.
|
Featured Job: Community Corrections Placement Specialist (SDA/TLT) - Juvenile Division
Salary: $81,432.00 - $103,292.80 Annually
Location: Seattle, WA
Job Type: Special Duty Assignment or Term Limited Temp (TLT)
Job Number: 2024JE23429
Department: DAJD-Adult/Juvenile Detention
Division: Juvenile
Opening Date: 12/17/2024
Closing Date: 12/31/2024 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: Q3 : KCJDG-DAJD-Juvenile Detention
Full- or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours/Week: 40 hours/week
MDAJD is accepting applications to fill one (1) full-time Community Corrections Placement Specialist (TLT/SDA) position. DAJD is seeking highly qualified candidates interested in making a difference for legal system involved youth and their families. The Community Corrections Placement Specialist works with youth and their families to ensure successful compliance with court orders, attending community-based services, school, and other pro-social activities. The Community Corrections Placement Specialist plays a crucial role in achieving King County's goal of providing safe alternatives to secure detention.
Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
King County Headlines
King County Noxious Weeds Blog: How community members came together to restore a wetland in Renton
|
